This is all about heat dissipation. Yet, the mule deer has a long, thin tail that is mostly white and ends in a black tip, while the black-tailed deer has a wider tail that is black when hanging down. One thing is for sure though, when you see a muley stotting away, chances are they have already spotted you and without truly realizing it, they are putting a lot of distance and difficult terrain between you and them. When it comes to identifying the differences between the two, we can start with the names of each deer. by Lakna. They rarely branch off anywhere besides the main tine. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/deer/publications.html, ISO Replacement Forearm Pads for a Beretta Extrema. For instance, a black-tailed deer typically has a lot of black shading on the brows which are notably absent on the whitetail. It was a means of survival for our early ancestors. The average mule deer will grow between 95 and 330 pounds in weight, 2.8-3.9 feet in height, and between 4 and 7 feet in length. OutdoorWorld Reviews is a community-supported website. Thank you for reading! Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? So if youre going out hunting or just wildlife watching and you want to know the differences, keep reading below. They are mostly browsers and do not spend much time grazing. HYBRIDIZATION HAPPENS. The greatest differences between a white-tailed deer and a black-tailed deer can be found in their morphology and size. Black-tail deer live in forested mountainous areas, making them less common. Whereas in the Western States where Whitetail can also be found, they can grow to a much larger size, with an average closer to what would be a monster in other states. The mule deer has a larger maximum size than the black-tailed deer. Realtree is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.2023 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. Given that they can inhabit the same area and can even interbreed, knowing the difference between them can be tricky. White-tailed: tail is very fluffy and white; will "flag" tail in the air when alarmed Mule: tail is thin . This is actually a pretty unique characteristic as most other deer in North America have white tails, hence the whitetail deer, while mule deers have mostly whitetails with a small black tip. While the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) covers a much larger area and varied terrain as it is found across much of the western U.S., Canada, and northern parts of Mexico. Mule deer are on average larger than the blacktail deer. Whitetails almost always have brown rumps. Also, mule deer tend to be much more laid back and less jittery. Mule deer have smaller stomachs than whitetail deer, meaning that they also must be more selective in their diet and choose foods with a higher nutritional value. It has a high protein content of 15-20%, depending on the cut. Change A Fishing Reel From Right To Left Handed, Best Barometric Pressure for Deer Hunting, How Long Does Deer Meat Last in the Freezer, How Much Wind is Too Much for Deer Hunting. For the rifle hunters, a flat shooting caliber such as .270, .243 or .30-06 would be ideal for blacktail and achieve the desired result. The further north you go the bigger in body they get, as per Bergman's law. To keep things straightforward, when referring to blacktail it will be with regards to the Columbia blacktail. The easiest way to tell them apart is by their size and tails more than anything else. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun. Mule deer are different. Though both are descendants of whitetail, black-tailed deer are considered a sub-species of mule deer. That pretty much says it all. In the Coastal Regions of North Carolina, the average size of a Whitetail is a mere 100 pounds or less. Blacktails in the rainforest are a very different creature from even the chaparral bucks. Have more success. The whitetail's metatarsals are below the mid-point of the lower leg, less than 1 inch long, and surrounded by white hairs. Description. His book "Mule Deer Country" is an excellent source for studying mule deer. Just ordered a copy. In comparison, whitetail deer is in abundance all over the United States, barring some western states. Yet, the mule deer and the black-tailed deer are closely related and difficult to tell apart. Bucks in our coast range will live most of the year (cept the rut) in less than 1/2 sq mile if they have food cover and water, Blacktails in the rainforest are a very different creature from even the chaparral bucks. To recap, the basic idea is that bucks tend to have proportionally larger front versus hind feet than does. November 15, 2022 |Brow Tines and Backstrap. While blacktails have similar ears, they are noticeably smaller than the mules, which is a great identification trick! With Mule deer, you get a much taller and more forky type of rack. Whitetail deer are more common than mule deer in America, giving them a larger geo range. The main difference between whitetail and mule deer is that the whitetail deer has a dark coloured face whereas the mule deer has a white coloured face. Mule deer, as a general rule, like to live in rugged areas. Genetic samples from far outside of the "cross-over" zone were used to establish those value ranges. Named for Sitka, Alaska, as they are found mostly in Alaska. Blacktail behavior vs. whitetail behavior? The fur of the mule deer is brown with a reddish tone in the summer months. Our blacktails in the Cascades have some muley influence and migrate. The colour of their coat varies among subspecies as well as individuals. The blacktail deer doesnt have this feature, with the fur on its rump being the same color as the rest of its body. Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. . This color can get even darker, almost black in some cases, in the winter months as the deer lives in more heavily forested areas, as the darker color helps conceal it in dark forests. 32+95=127. Specifically, theyll eat prickly lettuce, Gambel oak, quaking aspen, rice grass, goldeneye, and a wide variety of other foods. Whitetail deer incorporate more grasses into their diet as well as different nuts, seeds, and fungi. In contrast, whitetails coat looks more like reddish, brown color shades. They occur from the crest of the Cascades west to the ocean, preferring brushy, logged lands and coniferous forests. Find a group of does and wait for the buck, he wont be far behind. Interestingly, both shed their antlers every year in succession to each other. They try to see what is making the noise before bounding off. Sitkas also are larger in the body. Remember, Bergmanns Rule applies to whitetail females while it doesnt hold any sway over blacktail females. That said, its very difficult to use this parameter alone to make the decision to shoot. See also: Coues Deer vs Whitetail Deer: Differences & Comparison. Dr. Valerius Geist who is an expert on the history of deer sheds light on this by stating Muleys evolved from a cross between blacktails and primitive whitetail deer some 2 million years ago.. Deer are native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica, and many species have been widely introduced beyond their original habitats as game . The Columbia blacktail (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) ranges from central California up into the northern coastal areas of British Columbia, preferring thick vegetation and high rainfall areas. During hunting seasons, whitetails prefer thick, brushy bedding areas, while mule deer often choose shady spots near the tops of ridges where they can survey a large area for danger. Others have hunted and continue to hunt both. Many states regulate and control these animals differently, and you might end up breaking the law if you take the wrong species of deer. Lifespan: Up to 16 years. Like any other deer species, nocturnal behavior may increase due to hunting pressure, predators and habitat encroachment. Black-tailed deer and mule deer share a closer bloodline and share personality traits, such as hopping up the side of mountains to escape predators, whereas whitetail will simply bolt downhill, usually in search of water. Q-values of 0-0.12 were created as a pure mule deer zone, while q-values between 0.9-1 were established to . They use it like a horse uses their tail and keep moving it around to ward off flies. Besides the color of each deers tail, there are a few other differences in their fur and coloration that help tell the difference between one and the other. Hey I'm Karson. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? Two forms of black-tailed deer or blacktail deer that occupy coastal woodlands in the Pacific Northwest of North America are subspecies of the mule deer . Ears are normally larger than a whitetail but smaller than a mule deer. Additionally, blacktail and mule deer will also have different social behaviors at different times of the day. What to put in water when boiling deer skull. Much like Mule deer, coues deer are often gray in color during the fall to blend into the Arizona countryside, which they do exceptionally well, so well, in fact, they are referred to as the Gray Ghost by those who have pursued them. Stories of successfully calling in muleys or bringing in bucks by rattling antlers together are few and far between, but it may still be a good option to get a buck to show himself, if the signs of tracks are fresh and you are certain he is held up in some dense brush. A freelance writer of over 5 years, Thomas combines his passion for the great outdoors and writing skills to provide expert information & guides. They can be found in meadows, forest edges, and fields. Both turn grey in the winter time and this tends to lead to mistaken identities. Have some feedback for us? We may receive a commission with purchases through certain links. Predator Hunting (Coyote, Bobcat, Fox, Wolf, Cougar, etc. They may look alike at first glance, but their unique qualities make it simple to tell them apart. Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. When you add up the clues, they'll tell you if it's a buck or a doe. Meanwhile, the black-tailed deer only reaches a weight of 225 pounds, stands between 2 and 3.7 feet tall, and grows between 4 and 5.5 feet long. Mule deer are broken into many subspecies, and technically they are a subspecies of Blacktail deer. There are some similarities between the two animals. All in all, the white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer are very different creatures. Neither species has to flick their tails up to notice the difference either. Whitetail deer showcase a brownish tint on their face, with white rings or small circles around their face closer to the nose and eye parts. Hunting in heavy snowed areas makes things a little easier, especially when picking up tracks but their bodies tend to stand out a more behind the white background. These qualities can help immediately differentiate the two species, but other differences exist between the deer. The U.S., whitetail deer is brown with a reddish tone in summer! 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